Thursday, September 16, 2010

Summer and Autumn

I'm still in that Summer Is Still Here You Can't Talk Me Into Baking With Pumpkin Until Fall Is Here Mode. You're either with me or you're throwing gourds at me :-) According to my calendar, Autumn officially starts on September 23, but I've heard others say it's the 22nd, and most recently someone said it was the 21st. So I decided to do a little search and this is what I came up with: According to Suite 101, the first day of Fall is September 22, 2010 at precisely 11:09 pm EDT (for the Northern Hemisphere). There, it's settled.

That being said, I do have to admit to picking up two cans of Organic pumpkin puree at the grocery store this evening. Why? Am left me a comment asking if I had heard of a pumpkin shortage. I had not, but I also heard the same thing last year and I didn't have any problems finding any. That being said, I was going to stock up on a few cans for my Fall baking and I had a hard time finding it. When I found it (next to the canned pie filling) there were only two small cans on the shelf, so I snagged them up. I'm not sure if there really is a shortage or if it's still early in the season and it's not quite delivered to the stores yet. After all it is still Summer, have I mentioned that yet? :-) If you're worried about not having enough, just be sure to grab a can or two whenever you see some, where ever you see it. Am, I hope you find some!

While there are a few days left of this season, I thought I'd share with you a no-bake cookie recipe. I remember having these as a kid, though I am certain no one in my family made them, so I'm not sure where that memory comes from. You know when you taste something it just transports you back? Well that's how these cookies were for me. They're not really cookies, they're kinda fudgey and sweet, have great chocolate taste and they're loaded with oatmeal. When you first make them, they're somewhat soft and after a couple days they get harder and sandier, almost like a sugary praline. They were delicious and required very little effort. They'd also be great tucked into your kids lunch box.

Mix the sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in a medium saucepan.* Boil for 1 minute.

Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Mix quickly until peanut butter melts, then add the oatmeal and mix til well blended.

Drop spoonfuls on tin foil, wax paper or parchment. Allow to set and cool completely.

Makes 2 dozen 3 inch cookies.

NOTE: *I opted to pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl before adding the oatmeal.

P.S. I love old cookbooks. This recipe comes from the bank in our (former) hometown, published in 1975. It has some of the best recipes. And I love that it calls for Oleo, instead of butter. Seriously, LOVE that.

I am amazed at how small our planet is! These cookies but a bit size version are made in Serbia almost in every house when there is a celebration of the patron saint of the family (Christian orthodox tradition). I love the pictures!

First, Oliver sends a big happy birthday to Autumn--me too! Preacher Cookies--that's what my mother called them. She said they were so named because you could make them quickly if you saw the preacher pull up in front of your house. My sisters and I loved them. I'm going to make a batch for nostalgia's sake. I don't have any oleo (love those old cookbooks too) so will use butter. Thanks for the memories!

A few years ago I was trying to recreate these cookies that my mom made for me and sure enough I couldnt' get them to turn out. My hubby teased me saying well they're not baked and that's why you're having trouble because you're such a good baker. I tried several recipe and then finally had success. I love them! My kids call them sugar bombs, LOL!

I must break down and admit that it's already Fall in Delaware. Sure, there's a week left of summer, but the leaves have started to change, the land is dry, and it's less than 60 degrees in the morning.

I'll be picking up some pumpkin this weekend! I always find plenty of canned pumpkin at Wal-Mart.

Autumn is such a pretty dog! Her name is appropriate for her coloring. What breed(s) is she?

My Mom made similar cookies to these when I was little and called them Chocolate Snowballs (they were rolled in coconut). My girlfriend from Prince Edward Island here in Canada called them "Skunk Poops"! (They must have had interesting skunks in PEI!)

I have also heard there is a shortage of pumpkin, I have been looking for it since July (needed it for a baking contest at our fair), although the groceries in my area also tell me that pumpkin is now seasonal and will only be in the stores from October up until Christmas...so I plan on stocking up this year

Oh yeah, there is REALLY a pumpkin shortage. I live in southern Indiana, and we haven't been able to buy canned pumpkin since 2008!!! They told us that there was something that happened to the pumpkin crop and they couldn't sell them!!!My grandmother has terminal cancer and all she wanted for her birthday this year was one of her Pumpkin Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting from her recipe she gave me. So I called everywhere within a 2 hour radius of us, only one place had canned pumpkin, and they only had 1 small can left, so it would've been gone before I got there. Thank God it turns out my mother-in-law had bought a case at Sam's Club back at Christmastime in 08, and still had two cans left...so she graciously gave me one of them to make my Nana her cake <3

I love old cookbooks too, I have a old 4-H cookbook from my Great Grandma and it is my go-to for basics and bar cookies. But it's so gross when a few of them use rabbit or squirrel...Gross!The cookies looks so good, I love oatmeal in cookies. I think I will make these today!

THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST RECIPES I LEARNED TO "BAKE"... ACCIDENTALLY PUT TOO MUCH COCOA IN, I THINK 1 1/3 CUPS INSTEAD OF 1/3 CUP....SO WE ROLLED THEM INTO BALLS AND HIT THEM WITH BASEBALL BATS IN THE STREET, MADE A HUGE MESS AND HAD LOTS OF FUN!!!!

There is a huge shortage of pumpkin and its been 10 months since I have seen a can in the store. I am heartsick. Love the old cookbooks too. I found a pretty good substitute for Oleo its at Frys Marketplace or Smith's called Nucoa. LOVE THAT STUFF!

i had heard that last year about pumpkin but found it easily but now i am worried for this year! i think you are probably right it's just too early!just saw a recipe for these cookies with marshmallow! i have an old church cookbook where everything uses oleo:)

Monica, thank you so much for sharing this recipe! My kids are attending a new school this fall and they have snack time everyday. I've been baking cookies and freezing them (much cheaper than buying snacks). I'm either too tired or it's too hot to bake, these would be perfect! May I ask a pumpkin question? I know its a little early for pumpkin recipes to start popping up on blogs. I'm searching for a pumpkin bread recipe just like starbucks or something close to it. Or if you have a pumpkin bread recipe of your own you would like to share with us, it would be great!XOXOXOXO ~Anabel~

I love no bake cookies!! I make them at least once a week. They last about 1 day around here. And old cookbooks..love those too! I have a vast collection, earliest is 1914 I think and I have a lot from the 30's, 40's and 50's. They do have the best recipes! It's fun to read the ingredients. It's amazing to me how long some products have been around (like condensed milk and marshmallow fluff) and how some have changed (like the oleo instead of butter LOL) My mom still calls margarine 'oleo'.

They look delicious! I like to think they're someone healthy cause of the oatmeal ;)Your blog really inspires me, now I have my own and LOVE how you write, thanks for sharing all of this, is so pretty! (:

I guess since I'm posting pumpkin recipes, then I must be on the side of the gourd-throwers, eh? The heat has finally given us a welcome reprieve and it feels like Fall, so the pumpkin recipes are a-comin'.

Hey, I love that Autumn got in the photo. She and Ruby need their own blog. : )

Monica, I just love old cookbooks too! I've been collecting cookbooks since 1979 when I first began to cook on my own. And yes, count me in if you do start up your bake-a-long group. May I have your permission to post your "healthy cookie" recipe on my fresh clean and pure weekend blog hop? If not, all is still good! Roz

Hi, I make these for my kids and they love them but I must say yours are way prettier than mine! Mine look all crooked and wonky. I love your site and I pop over here often to see what deliciousness you are baking up. You do the most beautiful cookies, well everything actually!RobinSue

Yummy! I love no bake cookies! I am not baking with pumpkin until the weather turns cool. I will have to look in my area and see if there's a pumpkin shortage though. Thanks for sharing these. And happy birthday Autumn!!!!

I love these cookies! They're delicious AND I used to make them with my grandmother when I was a little girl. Thanks for bringing back some happy memories! And a wicked peanut butter/chocolate craving....

Just found your blog today and I am licking my chops! This recipe has been in my Mom's family a long time. I know it as "Mississippi Mud cookies". One of my very favorite things growing up. Fast, easy, yummy! I'll be making these this week with my kids.:-)

Oh, how I love the looks of these! Must try them. I just found your blog through a Pinterest link. Everything is so pretty! I'm subscribing right now. Oh, and my grandmother's recipes often called for Oleo too!

I love old cookbooks too...one of my favorites has a recipe for 'snokered lamb' that, as the title suggests, is lamb, basted in liquor. The directions caution one 'not to use liquor over 80 proof, or you'll blow your oven doors off like Jim and Justine did' . Just melts my heart every time I read it. (and since Justine is my mom's cousin, I let her know every. time. I read it...just to make sure she NEVER lives it down. ;)

I grew up on these as well. My recipe doesn't call for peanut butter. My version is here ... (http://blackhamboys.blogspot.com/2010/02/eating-his-words.html). I actually LOVE them frozen, they don't freeze all the way through, but they are so good chilled.

Oh, I will do you one better than that...the recipe was around for many years prior to 1975. In the early 60's (back in the day) we were served actual real home-cooked meals in the elementary school cafeteria. Once a week, this exact recipe was served warm and spooned onto our plates (actual plates) as dessert. Later in junior high, all girls were required to take a year of home ec (the boys to take wood shop). We were given that recipe to make! I still have it. The recipe is a wonderful thing to have! Treasure it dearly!

I'm going to agree with Laurie; our housekeeper/sitter taught me to make these cookies in 1963 when I was 6 years old. They were the first cookies I ever made. Mrs. Higgins called them Missouri Cookies. The only difference between your recipe and mine is the chunky peanut butter; I use smooth. But then, they probably didn't have chunky PB in 1963. LOL

No-Bakes (as we call them) are my fav all time cookie and my family loves them, too. The only change I would make is to boil them for exactly 3 min on med high and they will not be grainy...they will be perfect, but you have to work quickly with them. Thanks for sharing!

My mother in law use to make these and gave me the recipe. My husband loves them! I also never heard them with Peanut Butter and her recipe says to boil for exactly 3 min so that they dont get grainy. I would love to know how you got them so nice and round and pretty looking. They would freeze so much nicer that way. I usually just plop them on parchment paper and let them set up. I was told you know you didnt boil it long enough if they dont set up.

This sounds yummy. Can you please tell me what "a stick" is or what weight . Our butter in New Zealand comes in blocks of 500grams. Would a "stick" be say 50 grams? I can't wait to try the recipe.MaryAnne

THANK YOU for posting this recipe! My family grew up having them but I had misplaced the recipe. Rather than crunchy peanut butter, I used creamy and added a 1/2 cup more oats. Also, I would suggest keeping the mixture in the pot while scooping because it keeps it warm and more malleable if you're not fast with dropping the cookies. BEST TIP is using an ice cream scoop for perfect cookies and it's so much faster than using spoons. You can press the center down slightly if the cookies are too round. Thanks again!

My memory of no bake cookies, I think, is from the school cafeteria. That was the only place I remember ever having them. The first time I had them as an adult, that flavor was very familiar and school cafeteria is what I connected it to. So so good!!

Great recipe! I have a family cookbook which is full of old school recipes as well. My daughter has a peanut allergy, so I am going to swap the peanut butter for almond butter and add chopped almonds for the crunchy. Also going to add cranberries to make it more of a breakfast cookie.

I made these cookies for Christmas gifts, and they came out perfect. Today I made a batch for us to keep, and they came out sticky and were not set even after about 3hours in the fridge. It is VERY humid today on the Gulf coast. Could that be the problem, as one comment mentioned? Thank goodness the gift batch were right! And is there a way to "fix" them if they don't end up setting up?

Anonymous- yes, the humidity can affect them. Each time I've made them though I have not had that problem so in bit exactly sure what to do to "fix" them. You could eat them frozen, straight out if the freezer or perhaps you could roll them into balls and coat them in cocoa or coconut, kind if like truffles??? I'm sorry the second batch didn't turn out for you.

I first got this recipe from a grade school classmate in the '50's. My brothers nicknamed them 'Dog Do cookies' but loved them. As adults, they still call them by that name and get excited when they show up at family gatherings! I still have a hard time not eating most of a batch myself! That's why I don't make them very often!! Guess I'll have to make some soon with the grand kids!

My family has made these for generations. We have always called them Missouri cookies. They are a MUST at Christmas for all of us. I even have my grown daughters' friends texting me "Momma, are you making us Missouri cookies this year", lol.

Ok I am drooling over all of the recipes I have looked at on your blog so far. =) Thank you for share such yummy looking goodies. I am wondering though, have you ever made these without the milk? I am making some vegan friendly snacks for an upcoming party and I am not a good baker. These no bake cookies (they look and sound just like the ones my gramma used to make)look like they would be just the thing. I know soy milk and almond milk can sometimes do weird things, have you ever tried either of those in this recipe? Thanks for any guidance you can offer.

Margarine is a foodstuff used for spreading, baking, and cooking. It was originally created as a substitute for butter in the 1800s. Margarine is made mainly of hydrogenated or refined plant oils and water. While butter is made from fat from milk, margarine is made from plant oils and may also contain milk. In some locales it is colloquially referred to as "oleo", short for oleomargarine.--Wikipedia

You could try using Biscoff cookie spread. Trader Joes also sells what they call "cookie butter". It's finely crushed spiced cookies but has the same thick texture of peanut butter. You might also try sesame butter (sun butter) for nut free options.

I have found that if you add the cocoa after you take the milk/butter/sugar mixture off the heat it works better and your cookies will stay soft for a longer time. I've been told I make the best no-bake cookies b/c they stay soft so you might try that. I also use 3/4 cup peanut butter. These are my son's favorite cookie which is great since they're so easy!

It's great to see this recipe on Pinterest! I used to make these in the 60's, we called them "Chocolate Oaties". I lost the recipe long ago but now will teach our grandchildren how to make them....They will love them!

We called them "cow pies". They won't set up with tub or any soft stick margarine. I melt the butter first, then stir in the cocoa. Always stirs in smoothly before adding milk & sugar. You can also just leave out the cocoa for a peanut butter variety. They're yummy also!

That's so funny. When I was in elementary school many many years ago. I am now 57 so you know it's been a very long time. We would get the un-baked cookie as a treat with our lunch. The lunch ladies would make them in the morning and you could smell them in the entire school. Love them. They cut them into big square bar like a brownie. patty

My mom used to make these for us to take to elementary school for our birthday! They were cheap, easy to make the morning of, and were so delicious! My mom called them Mud Puddles! :) when I am having a craving for something sweet and easy, I cut the recipe down to 1/4 of it, and leave the oatmeal out. It makes this yummy, chocolaty, peanut butter fudge!!! So good!

I love seeing this recipe on here and how many people have the same warm memories as I do with these addicting cookies. I started making them with my Grandma when I was 3 years old. Such wonderful, tasty memories! I still make them to this day, 28 yrs later. My Grandma's recipe called for margarine (it was a real upgrade to go from the huge can of Crisco to the sticks) and optional 3 drops of mint extract, which we never used. Of course in the late 70's, my hippie mom adjusted the recipe to use carob powder instead of cocoa powder, butter instead of margarine and 1/3 cup of wheat germ. I now make them with butter, cocoa or carob powder (depending if I'm in the mood for chocolate or not) and gluten free rolled oats. It makes me happy to see how many people have such warm memories, as I do, with the same exact recipe. We always made sure to only let it come to a rolling boil for 1 minute. To everyone that did not grow up on these, I hope you start a new tradition in your family with what we call "Choclate Drop Cookies". PS for the nut allergies, you can use sunflower seed butter in place of the peanut butter but obviously it will taste a little different.

I have made these for over 50 years but learned about little different in the 1960s. If you use Nestled Quik Choc.milk mix it will make the cookies a lot less bitter and they won't leave that after taste in your mouth.i have never used vanilla but I guess it would add flavor.Cook on!!

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Welcome To My Blog

My name is Monica and I'm a stay at home mom living in central Texas. I like to cook, but baking is my passion. I am an (obsessive) collector of cake stands, cookbooks and bakeware. I make lots of yummy treats and often share my sweet creations with friends, family and anyone else who is willing to be my guinea pig. I have lots of recipes in the archives so I hope you'll stick around for awhile!

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